Publications by authors named "F de Blay"

Background: Exposure-related changes in exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and sputum eosinophils have not been thoroughly compared in the investigation of occupational asthma.

Objective: This study aimed at comparing the accuracies of the changes in FeNO concentrations and sputum eosinophil counts in identifying asthmatic reactions induced by occupational agents during specific inhalation challenges (SICs).

Methods: This retrospective multicenter study included 321 subjects who completed an assessment of FeNO and sputum eosinophils before and 24 h after SICs with various occupational agents, of whom 156 showed a positive result.

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Background: Regulatory T (Treg) cells are pivotal in immune tolerance to allergens. Low-dose IL-2 (IL-2) activates Treg cells.

Objective: Our aim was to assess IL-2 efficacy for controlling clinical responses to allergen exposures.

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Background: Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is a bronchoscopic procedure for patients with severe uncontrolled asthma, but randomized controlled studies of its efficacy in severe asthma with frequent exacerbations are lacking. The current aim was to assess BT efficacy in this patient population.

Methods: Thirty patients with asthma (GINA 5) who had experienced at least four severe exacerbations in the preceding year were randomized to BT (n = 15) or control groups (n = 15).

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Article Synopsis
  • The study evaluated the effectiveness of specific IgE (sIgE) testing for wheat and rye flour in diagnosing occupational asthma compared to a specific inhalation challenge (SIC), which is considered the gold standard.
  • Results showed that sIgE levels of 0.35 kU/L or greater had similar diagnostic sensitivity and specificity to the SIC, but higher sIgE thresholds increased specificity significantly.
  • The findings suggest that high sIgE levels can effectively indicate flour-induced occupational asthma, while low levels in patients with a positive SIC may correlate with lower T2 inflammatory biomarkers.
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Background: An innovation to better manage cat-allergic patients utilises anti-Fel d 1 IgY antibodies to neutralise Fel d 1 after its production by the cat. However, there is no published study showing its clinical efficacy in humans in a home setting. A longitudinal, open-label, proof-of-concept study was carried out to approach clinical efficacy of the cat food in cat-allergic patients.

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